The 2003 varsity soccer season will go down as one of the most memorable and exciting as the team advanced to the state championship match before losing in overtime. Still, the surprising runner-up finish completes one of the most successful years in recent history for the soccer program, led by head coach Vincent Beck.
The team, made up of only one graduating senior, Mikey McGuire, started the season with eight consecutive wins, including a victory over Houston, a perennial soccer power. The Owls were rarely tested in these first eight matches as they scored at least three goals in each game. This stretch included wins over Nashville teams Father Ryan at home and Brentwood Academy in Brentwood.
After the win against Houston, the Owls suffered their first loss of the season, a 1-0 setback at CBHS, foreshadowing of upcoming events. MUS then won two more games before settling for two ties. The Owls forced a 2-2 tie against a powerful Germantown squad, and then they tied defending AA state champion, Ridgeway, 1-1. MUS ended the regular season with a 1-0 victory over ECS to head into the regional tournament with a 11-1-2 record.
After having lost to ECS in the second round of the regional tourney, the Owls faced a must-win situation against Briarcrest to avoid having the season end. MUS stepped up in the regional third-place game to win 2-0 and advance to the state tournament, held at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex during exams.
The players' stamina and spirits were tested in the state tournament as they fought off some outstanding, talented teams to stay alive and advance. In the first round against Battle Ground Academy, the number-one seed in the middle section of the state, the Owls led most of the way before being tied late in the game. BGA tied the game once again in the overtime period to force a shootout. However, MUS prevailed in the penalty-kick round to advance.
In the state semifinals the Owls went up against Chattanooga McCallie. In another tight match MUS again needed some extra time. And just as in the first round, the Owls needed to go to the penalty-kick round before dispatching of the best team in the eastern part of the state. The win moved MUS to the title game against their rival, the extremely talented squad from Christian Brothers.
In the state-title match, the large, noisy crowd saw outstanding effort and performances. After a scoreless first half, CBHS took the lead with about twenty-five minutes remaining in the game with a goal, and they looked as if they would take control of the game. However, MUS did not lie down as they fought back to tie the game with a goal by junior Doug Pleiman. Once again, the game eventually went to extra periods. After a scoreless first ten-minute overtime period, CBHS put the game out of reach in the second ten-minute period. Two goals in the final five minutes secured the championship for the Purple Wave. Though the season did not end as they would have liked, the Owls could take much from their experiences and runner-up finish, the school's first state-title appearance since 1996.
The youth of this team is what excites MUS soccer fans. The squad loses only McGuire, who will continue his soccer career at Lambuth University. Juniors on the team included Winfield Clifford, Paul Moinester, Pleiman, Christian Reeser, Clayton Thomas, Scott Warren, Blake Wiedman, and Stephen Weston. The team also consisted of sophomores Kane Alber, Ryan Freebing, Ches Linebarier, Michael O'Mell, Kyle Rosenberg, Aaron Struminger, and Ben Tacker, while freshman Brian Evans, David Shochat, and Logan Welch also contributed.
With the nucleus of this team returning next season, more great accomplishments are expected.